Lagunitas IPNA Review: I Taste And Compare It To The Original Lagunitas

October 28, 2023
By: Audrey Hickey

About the Author

Audrey is the head writer at One Club Sober and has spent the last few years tasting and reviewing different non-alcoholic drinks. She has been sober since 2021, and her favorite non-alcoholic drinks are really hoppy beers, seltzers, and hop teas. You can reach Audrey at audrey@oneclubsober.com

Back in my drinking days, Lagunitas IPA was one of my go-to beers. If anything could be called a labor of love, it’s Lagunitas’ non-alcoholic IPA (cleverly branded as IPNA).

It took the brewers at Lagunitas over a year of research and development to find the perfect blend of hops and malt for this non-alcoholic beer. I’ll share what I think about this beer in this Lagunitas IPNA review.

Lagunitas IPNA review

A Quick Look At Lagunitas IPNA

Lagunitas’ first foray into the non-alcoholic drink game came in 2018 with Hoppy Refresher, a dry-hopped seltzer with zero calories, zero carbs, and zero gluten.

Building on Hoppy Refresher’s success, Lagunitas released IPNA, a more beer-like alcohol-free option in 2020.

Lagunitas IPNA review

Looks & Aroma

Lagunitas IPNA pours a clear, slightly orange/caramel color that is a little darker than you would expect from an IPA.

It has the slightest hint of a head but whatever foam was present quickly disappeared.

Aroma-wise, I like that the IPNA is a dead-ringer for a traditional IPA: the piney scent of hops is immediately present, followed by a hint of grapefruit.

Lagunitas IPNA glass and bottle

Taste

Thanks to the hop blend used in Lagunitas IPNA, the non-alcoholic IPA tasted citrusy, piney, and dank. There’s also a touch of wheat and a slight herbiness to it.

Despite the hops, the IPNA isn’t very bitter, which tells me they probably used aroma hops rather than bittering hops.

In the mouth, it has a light to medium body, along with a medium amount of carbonation (surprising, given the lack of head).

The finish is smooth and a bit watery.

Lagunitas IPNA

Customer Reviews

To give you a more comprehensive review of Lagunitas IPNA, I went on Untappd for other customer reviews. On Untappd, customers gave Lagunitas IPNA a 2.95 out-of-5-star rating from 6,602 reviews.

Reading through these reviews, I am noticing that most of the negative feedback is about the thin body and lack of the usual IPA punch.

Lagunitas IPNA review untappd 2

Lagunitas IPNA review untappd

Lagunitas IPNA ingredients

IPNA is brewed with the same ingredients as Lagunitas’ regular IPA: hops, malt, yeast, and water.

More specifically, Lagunitas uses a blend of Mosaic, Citra, and Centennial hops, plus Alberta barley and English crystal malt.

Lagunitas IPNA calories

Each 12-ounce/355-ml bottle of IPNA contains 80 calories. This falls within the normal range for non-alcoholic beers and is much lower than the brewery’s alcoholic version containing 190 calories.

 Avg Quantity Per Serving (12 oz/ 355 ml)
Calories80
Fat0g
–Saturated fat 0g
–Trans fat0g
Sodium6mg
Total Carbohydrates 18g
–Dietary Fiber0g
–Sugar3g
Protein0g

 

Final Verdict Of My Lagunitas IPNA Review

The best way I can describe the Lagunitas IPNA is to say that it’s missing a beat. After taking a sip, I’d have to wait a few seconds before the flavor of the hops came in.

I enjoyed the hops once they came in but their delayed arrival and quick departure left me unsatisfied.

Overall, this drink doesn’t remind me of an IPA. For reference, I’m a huge fan of hop-heavy (especially Citra hops) beers and found the IPNA just too mild for my palette.

If I were going to choose a non-alcoholic option from Lagunitas, I’d definitely favor the Hoppy Refresher over the IPNA. I’ve also written a full review of the Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher.

The Hoppy Refresher is heavy on the hops, refreshing, and overall doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be something it’s not.

Despite my personal negative Lagunitas IPNA review, I acknowledge that those who enjoy milder IPAs might like this one on a sober night.

Great For:

  • If you enjoy IPAs with a milder body and bitterness

Not Recommended For:

  • Those who like stronger, more bitter IPAs

Where to buy Lagunitas IPNA

If you’re located in the United States, you can purchase Lagunitas IPNA from online retailer Proof No More.

 

Other key FAQs about Lagunitas IPNA

Is Lagunitas IPNA vegan?

All of Lagunitas’ products, including the IPNA, are vegan. That means they do not contain any animal products.

Is Lagunitas IPNA gluten-free?

Lagunitas IPNA is not gluten-free. It contains malt, which typically indicates that a product contains gluten.

Fear not, though! We’ve got a complete guide to gluten-reduced and gluten-free beers so you can enjoy yourself without consequences.

Is Lagunitas IPNA suitable for diabetics?

Given that Lagunitas IPNA contains 18 grams of carbohydrates, we do not recommend this beer to diabetics.

Like any food or drink with a lot of carbohydrates, the IPNA will spike blood sugar for those with Type I or Type II diabetes.

While we can’t recommend this option to diabetics, we do have an awesome article about sugar-free beers. Check it out here: Best Non-Alcoholic Beer For Diabetics.

Lagunitas IPNA contains a tiny trace of alcohol that is less than 0.5% ABV. That’s comparable to the amount of alcohol in a glass of orange juice and less than a serving of kombucha.

In contrast, the regular Lagunitas IPA has 6.2% ABV.

Each 12-ounce/355-ml bottle of Lagunitas IPNA contains 18 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of sugar.

Did you enjoy this Lagunitas IPNA review? Then check out our other non-alcoholic beer reviews:

Lagunitas IPNA feels a little too mild for an IPA. The lack of hoppiness and watery body leaves more to be desired.

About the Author

Audrey is the head writer at One Club Sober and has spent the last few years tasting and reviewing different non-alcoholic drinks. She has been sober since 2021, and her favorite non-alcoholic drinks are really hoppy beers, seltzers, and hop teas. You can reach Audrey at audrey@oneclubsober.com

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